Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Auburn on February 24, 2026 , Win , 91, to, 79
Final
Men's Basketball
91
vs Auburn
79
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Get a Feel for Birmingham
March 20, 2008 | Men's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The OU men's basketball team got a feel for Birmingham on Thursday as the Sooners continued preparations for their first round matchup with Saint Joseph's. Oklahoma held a morning practice at Hoover High School and went through media day activities at BJCC Arena before its open practice session in the afternoon.
Head Coach Jeff Capel, seniors Longar Longar and David Godbold, and freshman Blake Griffin took the podium for the pre-tournament press conference. Read their quotes below.
Opening Statement:
"We're excited to be here, obviously to be a part of the greatest sporting event which is the NCAA tournament. Really happy for our guys to get the experience, some of them for the first time. We're happy to be here in Birmingham. There's a lot of basketball tradition here in the city and in this state. And hopefully we can come out and play well."
On any differences in practice this week:
"Yeah, there's been a lot of excitement in practice. Guys are more focused. Everybody's coming out with a lot of energy. So it's good to see and hopefully we come out with the same energy level that we had at practice the last couple days."
On guarding against just being happy to be here:
"Well, we just try to use that energy that we have from being excited to be here and we try to use it in the game. We know that if we're going to have a chance to win the game tomorrow we're going to have to play with a lot of energy, get a lot of stops and defend. Make sure we get rebounds. So we're going to try to use that energy that we have from the excitement and hopefully it turns out well for us."
On any differences in practice this week:
"Definitely, I'd say we have more energy because it's our first time and it's a big stage, everybody's excited. Some guys haven't been before. It's definitely exciting and it's definitely good because when you have better practices you tend to have better games. So, this week is really important to have some good solid practices with a lot of energy to come out and play hard tomorrow."
On guarding against just being happy to be here:
"We definitely just need to use our own energy and remember how we or remember how it was last year to be done. Some of us weren't here, but at the same time, that feeling is it's so close and watching games on TV you can see teams losing and you see their last game being played and some of the seniors' last time they will be playing on the college level. So, just kind of for me, it kind of helps put things in perspective and kind of gives you more excitement to play."
On any differences in practice this week:
"Just like they said, a lot of focus, intensity in practice, just a lot of excitement. We're very fortunate to be here. We know it's going to be a really good game. Saint Joseph's team, we watched them some, we've just been preparing for them. So we're excited to play tomorrow night."
Head Coach Jeff Capel, seniors Longar Longar and David Godbold, and freshman Blake Griffin took the podium for the pre-tournament press conference. Read their quotes below.
 |
Head Coach Jeff Capel |
Opening Statement:
"We're excited to be here, obviously to be a part of the greatest sporting event which is the NCAA tournament. Really happy for our guys to get the experience, some of them for the first time. We're happy to be here in Birmingham. There's a lot of basketball tradition here in the city and in this state. And hopefully we can come out and play well."
On his approach to postseason play:
"Well, it is a new season. There's new hope for everyone that made this tournament. And it's no different for us. One of the things I told our guys just with my past experience of playing in this tournament and having an opportunity to coach in this tournament, before, is number one; let's have a lot of fun with it. Let's really have fun when you play.
"But that's not anything different than I tell our guys all the time. I think you should have fun when you play. If it's not fun, then you're not going to be as good as you can be. And when it gets to be when it's not fun, you shouldn't play any more. That's just my opinion. But approach it with a sense of urgency.
"All year long you try to get your guys to believe that, but now when you get to this point, every game really could be your last. For this group, this could be the last time this group could be together. Today could be the last practice that we have. So, you really want to try to savor each moment, but really lay everything out on the line to try to keep extending your season.
"So, that's something that we have talked about with our guys. A sense of urgency, playing with incredible passion and being consistent with it all game long."
Click here for complete press conference quotes.
|
David Gobold |
On any differences in practice this week:
"Yeah, there's been a lot of excitement in practice. Guys are more focused. Everybody's coming out with a lot of energy. So it's good to see and hopefully we come out with the same energy level that we had at practice the last couple days."
On guarding against just being happy to be here:
"Well, we just try to use that energy that we have from being excited to be here and we try to use it in the game. We know that if we're going to have a chance to win the game tomorrow we're going to have to play with a lot of energy, get a lot of stops and defend. Make sure we get rebounds. So we're going to try to use that energy that we have from the excitement and hopefully it turns out well for us."
|
Blake Griffin |
On any differences in practice this week:
"Definitely, I'd say we have more energy because it's our first time and it's a big stage, everybody's excited. Some guys haven't been before. It's definitely exciting and it's definitely good because when you have better practices you tend to have better games. So, this week is really important to have some good solid practices with a lot of energy to come out and play hard tomorrow."
On guarding against just being happy to be here:
"We definitely just need to use our own energy and remember how we or remember how it was last year to be done. Some of us weren't here, but at the same time, that feeling is it's so close and watching games on TV you can see teams losing and you see their last game being played and some of the seniors' last time they will be playing on the college level. So, just kind of for me, it kind of helps put things in perspective and kind of gives you more excitement to play."
|
Longar Longar |
On any differences in practice this week:
"Just like they said, a lot of focus, intensity in practice, just a lot of excitement. We're very fortunate to be here. We know it's going to be a really good game. Saint Joseph's team, we watched them some, we've just been preparing for them. So we're excited to play tomorrow night."
On guarding against just being happy to be here:
"It's important, I mean, last year like you said, at this time of the year we were done already. But we've got to understand that you lose, you go home. It's not going to make any difference, so we've got to come out with a lot of focus, a lot of energy. You've got to elevate your game to a whole different level. Every team in this tournament is good. We've just got to take care of business tomorrow night."
Click here for complete press conference quotes.
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